MMA fighters Chandler, Henderson talk upcoming fight

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MMA fighters Michael Chandler and Benson Henderson stopped by KTVU the 9 ahead of their big match up.

Chandler will be defending his belt against former UFC Champion Henderson in San Jose next month.

Both Chandler and Henderson share a mutual respect for each other.

Chandler said he knew their paths would eventually cross, so he's been studying to fight Henderson for the last five to six years. "This is a fight the fans want to see, this is a fight that's been years and years in the making. I'm excited to go in there and compete and defend the strap and I know he wants it, so it's going to be a good night."

Both Henderson and Chandler were high school and college wrestlers before they transitioned into MMA. "It's nice to have an avenue to be a professional athlete as a wrestler. We now have MMA to be a professional athlete," said Henderson.

Henderson was a police officer before he became a professional athlete. When asked about his opponent's weaknesses, he said there are some small weaknesses, but didn't want to give anything away. Chandler said the same, "He knows how to win - I think I'm the more dominant fighter so I have that confidence going in... I have to be smart, I have to be calculated."

On November 19th the action of Bellator MMA is coming to the SAP Center in San Jose. Tickets for the fight are now on sale.